posted byMuse Dental GroupFebruary 23, 2021
It is common for parents to get braces for their children to help perfect their smiles at a younger age.
Braces help straighten the smile and improve the bite and are one of the most effective cosmetic dental procedures.
However, getting braces is a large responsibility and requires care and maintenance. Therefore, it is important to understand the process before putting your child in braces.
In this article, we are going to discuss:
The first step in the braces process is a consultation with your orthodontist so that they can evaluate your smile and bite and determine what steps need to be taken to correct the imperfections. This will allow the dentist to present the options available to the patient.
During the consultation, your dentist will also examine your mouth and create a mold of your teeth.
The next step is attaching the braces to the teeth. First, your dentist will attach the brackets to your teeth with dental glue. Then the wire is put through the brackets in order to pull the teeth in the direction they need to move.
This may cause some soreness since the wires are placing pressure on the teeth.
Depending on your case, your braces will need adjustments from time to time. This will include tightening and adjusting the wires so that they continue to move the teeth into the correct positions.
Additionally, your orthodontist may recommend adding rubber bands to the brackets in order to fix more severe problems like a misaligned bite.
It is important to visit your orthodontist often to ensure that the braces are exerting enough pressure on the teeth. With every adjustment, your teeth improve slightly.
Finally, once your teeth and bite are correctly aligned, your dentist will remove the braces and provide you with a retainer.
Patients should be consistent about wearing their retainer so the teeth stay in the right position.
Traditional braces have a number of benefits compared to other options, such as Invisalign.
For example, one of the benefits of braces , especially if you are considering orthodontic treatment for your child, is that the child has no choice but to comply.
There is no way to take braces off at home, so the child will always be wearing them while ensuring they wear Invisalign every day may be difficult.
Additionally, braces exert pressure on the actual root of the tooth, moving the tooth and its root entirely, which may be necessary for more severe dental cases.
By having your child evaluated for braces at a young age , an orthodontist can detect any problems that may emerge in the future.
Children can be evaluated for braces as early as 7 years old but most orthodontists would recommend waiting until they are at least 9 years old before putting them in braces.
It is important to wait until your child has lost all of their baby teeth before getting braces as braces are meant to move the permanent teeth.
In some cases, baby teeth can be pulled to speed up the process. However, it is important that the child’s permanent teeth have already grown.
Some dentists recommend getting orthodontic treatment before the child stops growing because the teeth are easier to move during this time.
Once the child is fully grown, it can take longer to move the teeth.
If the child has more severe orthodontic problems, such as a misaligned jaw or bite, starting treatment early will prevent them from being in braces longer than necessary.
Braces require a lot of maintenance, especially because if they are not taken care of, they can leave permanent marks on the teeth.
Therefore, if you plan on getting braces for your child, it is crucial to keep in mind that they will have to be diligent with their oral care. If you do not believe they are disciplined enough to do so at their age, it may be a better idea to wait until they are older before putting them in braces.
Additionally, once the braces are removed they will have to wear their retainer as much as possible or as instructed so that the teeth remain in their correct positions.
Similarly, while having braces, one is restricted from eating certain foods that may cause damage to the braces of the teeth.
For example, sticky candy that could get stuck on the braces or any hard food that could bend or break the braces should be avoided.
If you are looking to straighten your child's smile, make an appointment with your orthodontist today!
The dentists at Muse Dental will evaluate your case and create a custom braces treatment plan that will straighten your child’s teeth and help prevent future misalignment.
Here at Muse Dental , we want to help you achieve your cosmetic dentistry goals and provide you with the best care possible. If you are ready for a consultation, schedule an appointment with us today!
We’d love to have you for a checkup at Muse Dental Group with Dr. G. Bardakjian. He will evaluate your case and will ensure your treatment is done with the utmost care.
Your smile is in great hands at Muse Dental Group!
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